Chrysanthemum plant named Kardo

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Kardo particularly characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; yellow-orange ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum of up to 11 cm at maturity; uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; tall plant height when grown single stem; 18 to 33 cm peduncles on open, normally terminal sprays; slow development of green discs and 13° C. minimum temperature tolerance for initiation and development of flowering buds with a 12 to 13 hour continuous dark period.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Dentrenthema morifolium, Ramat.,previously Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., and referred to by thecultivar name Kardo.

Kardo, identified as 79L40001, was originated from a cross made in acontrolled breeding program in Salinas, Calif., in 1979. The femaleparent of Kardo, identified as 75211A01, was the cultivar identified asWhite Nova, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,289. The male parent ofKardo, identified as 78419004, was an unnamed seedling.

Kardo was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by William E. Duffett in July of 1980, in acontrolled environment in Salinas, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Kardo was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in October of1980 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. by a technicianworking under formulations established and supervised by William E.Duffett.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successiveplantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for Kardo are firmly fixed and are retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

Kardo has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions.The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment suchas temperature, light intensity and day length.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Salinas, Calif. and Bogota, Colombia under greenhouseconditions which approximate those generally used in commercialgreenhouse practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Kardo which, in combination, distinguishthis Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) Flat capitulum form.

(2) Daisy capitulum type.

(3) Yellow-orange ray floret color.

(4) Diameter across face of capitulum up to 11 cm. at maturity.

(5) Uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days.

(6) Peduncle length ranging from 18 to 33 cm.

(7) Tall plant height, requiring one long day week prior to short daysto attain a flowered plant height of 95 to 105 cm for year aroundflowering.

(8) Low temperature tolerance of 13° C. for initiation and developmentof flowering buds when grown in single stem cut spray programs with acontinuous dark period of 12 to 13 hours.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andleaf characteristics of Kardo, with the colors being as nearly true aspossible with illustrations of this type.

Sheet 1 is a color photograph of Kardo grown as a single stem cut spray.

Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph of three views of theinflorescence of Kardo.

Sheet 3 is a black and white photograph showing the upper and undersides of the leaves of Kardo at three stages of development (mature,intermediate and immature).

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar incomparison to Kardo is Amber, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,969.Reference is made to attached Chart A, which compares certaincharacteristics of Kardo to the same characteristics of Amber. Similartraits are type, form, response and low temperature tolerance. Kardodevelops a lighter ray floret color, longer peduncles, larger capitulumdiameter and taller plant height than Amber.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The exact colors for corolla of rayflorets are not precisely represented in The Royal Horticultural SocietyColour Chart (RHS), and the colors given are the closest to the actualcolor of Kardo. The color values were determined on plant material grownin Salinas, Calif. on July 18, 1985.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dentrenthema morifolium, Ramat., cv Kardo.

Commercial.--Daisy cut spray mum.

I. INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Daisy.

Diameter across face.--Up to 11 cm at maturity.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of threemeters).--Yellow-orange.

Color (upper surface).--Base color 19A to 20B, overlaid with 167B.

Color (under surface).--14C.

Shape.--Oblong.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--14C.

Color (immature).--7A.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present disc florets only; moderate pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present both ray and disc florets.

II. PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--Tall; 95 to 105 cm. as a flowering plant from a rooted cuttingwith seven long days for year around flowerings maintaining a continuousdark period of 12 to 13 hours.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--147A.

Color (under surface).--137B-137C.

Shape.--Narrow, deeply lobed and sharply serrated.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMPARISON OF KARDO AND AMBER                                                 ______________________________________                                                          CAPIT-                                                                        ULUM             DIAMETER                                                     FORM     SPRAY   ACROSS                                     CULTI- FLORET     AND      FORMA-  FACE OF                                    VAR    COLOR      TYPE     TION    CAPITULUM                                  ______________________________________                                        KARDO  YELLOW-    FLAT     18 to   UP TO 11 cm.                                      ORANGE     DAISY    33 cm.                                                                        PEDUN-                                                                        CLES                                               AMBER  ORANGE     FLAT     15 to   UP TO 8 cm.                                                  DAISY    20 cm.                                                                        PEDUN-                                                                        CLES                                               ______________________________________                                                                      LOW                                             CULTI- PLANT      FLOWERING   TEMPERATURE                                     VAR    HEIGHT     RESPONSE    TOLERANCE                                       ______________________________________                                        KARDO  TALL,      9 WEEKS     13° C.                                          95 to                                                                         105 cm.                                                                AMBER  MEDIUM,    9 WEEKS     13° C.                                          80 to                                                                         90 cm.                                                                 ______________________________________                                        COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS SINGLE                                    STEM CUT SPRAY MUMS WITH SEVEN LONG DAYS                                      UB SALINAS, CALIFORNIA                                                        ______________________________________                                    

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named Kardo, asdescribed and illustrated, and particularly characterized as touniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat capitulum form; daisycapitulum type; yellow-orange ray floret color; diameter across face ofcapitulum of up to 11 cm at maturity; uniform nine week photoperiodicflowering response to short days; tall plant height when grown singlestem; 18 to 33 cm peduncles on open, normally terminal sprays; slowdevelopment of green discs; and 13° C. minimum temperature tolerance forinitiation and development of flowering buds with a 12 to 13 hourcontinuous dark period.